The mobile tire replacement service is setting up “Tire Check Pit stops” at large area employers; the company’s technicians will provide free tire wear inspections, tire pressure checks and correct any inflation deficiencies while educating drivers on the importance of properly maintained tires.
“After you buy a car, the next most important decision you make is the choice of tires and the proper maintenance of those tires,” says Phil Pifer, TireVan’s president and CEO. “We want to help drivers learn how they can improve safety, increase ride comfort and save money.”
Under-inflated tires contribute to more than 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
A recent survey by the RMA found that 55 percent of American vehicles have at least one under-inflated tire. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that a car driving 12,000 miles annually with tires under-inflated by 10 psi wastes 190 gallons of fuel at a cost of $750 per year.
The RMA poll also found that 64 percent of drivers do not know how to determine if their tires are worn and need to be replaced. Worn tires can be especially dangerous under wet conditions and can significantly increase the likelihood of a crash.
Pirelli is among the tire manufacturers partnering with the RMA, NHTSA and the AAA to boost the Be Tire Smart – Play Your PART tire maintenance education program. The cooperative recently joined the Fairfax County, Va. police department to demonstrate the hazards posed by under inflated tires.
The officers first drove vehicles with properly inflated tires and then those with significantly under-inflated tires through simple maneuvers to demonstrate how vehicle handling is negatively affected by poor tire maintenance.
According to the RMA survey, millions of U.S. drivers do not know how to properly check tire pressure. Some 85 percent of motorists do not know how to properly inflate their tires.
“Ten years ago, NHTSA and AAA helped RMA launch National Tire Safety Week,” says Charles Cannon, the RMA’s president and CEO. “Our partnership and efforts continue today because our job is not finished. Too many drivers fail to do one simple task every month that will reduce their safety risk and help our nation conserve valuable natural resources. Checking tire pressure takes just five minutes and it’s worth every second,” he points out.
“Tires are a critical safety component on vehicles and the only parts that touch the road,” says NHTSA chief administrator David L. Strickland. “NHTSA imposes stringent testing requirements for every tire sold in the U.S. to ensure the strongest consumer protection possible. But, the only way to ensure the continued safety performance of tires is for consumers to play their part with regular maintenance starting with inflation pressure. Without the right pressure, consumers are risking safety.”
AAA Vice President for Public Affairs Kathleen Marvaso notes that the motor club will respond to more than 1.2 million roadside assistance requests for tire-related issues this summer. “Many of these can be avoided by taking a few minutes once a month to ensure tires are properly inflated,” she says.
Capt. Susan Collins of the Fairfax County Police reports that “officers too often see the consequences of poorly maintained vehicles on county roads. We appreciate the opportunity to work with industry, safety advocates and government agencies to educate drivers. Tires that are under inflated or bald will not grip the road properly and that increases the risk of crash. We urge all motorists to follow simple tire care tips to make sure they get to where they’re going safely.”
The “Be Tire Smart – Play Your PART” program revolves around the PART part, which is an acronym for Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread – the four key elements of tire care: Pressure: Check air pressure, under-inflation is the leading cause of wear and tear of tires Alignment: Misalignment of wheels in the front or rear can cause uneven and rapid tread-wear Rotation: Regularly rotating your vehicle’s tires will help you achieve more uniform wear